Tone-arm support for talking-machines.



L. K. SCOTFORD TONE ARM SUPPORT FOR TALKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5. I916- Patented Feb. 20,1917..

a A o vv// I I I 'l 4 7732 6 M22520? 0 rd MJa/J I LOUIS x..sco'rronn,orCHICAGO, I'LLINOIS.

TONE-ARM SUPPORT FOR TALKING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern; I I Be it-known that I, LOUIS K. Sco'rroRD,a

v citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tone-Arm Supports for Talking-Machines, of which thefollow- F ing is a specification.

My invention relates in general to talking machines and moreparticularly to means for pivotally supporting the tone arm of suchmachine.

The sound box of a disk record talking machine must be so supported asto be movable vertically and horizontally in order that it may be movedinto and out of engagement with the record, and when in engagement withthe record moved radially relatively thereto. These movements of thesound box are obtained by so supporting the tone arm, on which the soundbox is carried, as to swing laterally and vertically either in whole orin part according to whether the tone arm comprises one rigid section ortwo sections pivotally connected so as to permit the end section whichsupports the sound box to swing verticallyn My invention relates to tonearms of the former type, namely, that in which the tone arm comprises asingle rigid section, the supported end of which is mounted to swingboth horizontally and vertically.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved pivotalsupport for the supported end of the tone arm of a talking machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a support for the tonearm of a talking machine by which it may freely swing both verticallyand horizontally with a minimum of resistance. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide a tone arm supportwhich will be simple in construction, convenient in use,

and efficient in operation.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which the same is illustrated as embodiedin two convenient and practical forms, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a portion of the tone arm of atalking machine, a part thereof being shown in a vertical sec tion. v

Fig. 2 is an celevational and part sectional Specification of LettersPatent.

' designate similar of the drawing.

-a shoulder 6 Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Application filed July 15, 1916. Serial N 0. 109,489.

view of the keeper ring of the tone arm support, detached.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the supported end of the tone arm, part beingbroken away.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the under side of the keeper ring of thesupport.

ig. '5 is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of myinvention, the support and the adjacent portion of the tone arm beingshown.

Fig. 6 is. an enlarged detail Vertical section of the modificationshownin Fig. 5, taken on line 66 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 isa' partial horizontal detail section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;and

Fig. '8 is a complete horizontal sectional View on line 7-7 of Fig. 5,the retaining ring being shown in a different position relatively to thesupport fromthat shown in Fig. 7. I i

Similar reference characters are used to parts in the several figuresReferring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, reference letter A indicates thetone arm of a talking machine of any suitable construction. VVhileI haveshown a tone arm of a certain specific form,'yet it will be understoodthat my invention is not limited to any particular shape or form of tonearm, but is applicable generally to tone arms of the type in which thesupported end is mounted to swing vertically and horizontally. Bdesignates a tubular support provided with a circular flange b at itsbase, which is suitably secured upon the table of the talking machine.The upper end of the support B is cut away interiorly so as to form vTrunnions 0 project from diametrically opposite points on the lower endof the tone arm, such trunnions being preferably formed by the ends of arod 0 which extends transversely across the end a of the tone arm. Thetrunnions 0 rest upon the shoulder b and serve as the sole means forsupporting the tone arm and for permitting it to swing. horizontally aswell as vertically.

D designates a keeper ring of a size to o fit within the reduced upperend of the tubular support B with its lower edge (Z resting upon theshoulder 6 and with its cylindrical inner surface registering with theinner surface of the tubular support B. The ring D is provided with'anoutwardly projecting peripheral flanged at its top,

which over-lies the reduced upper end of the support B. Notches, orrecesses, d are provided in the lower edge of the ring D atdiametrically opposite points thereof, such no'tches being of a size toloosely surround the trunnions 0 on the lower end a of the tone arm, andthereby retain the portion of the tone arm which projects within, thesupport in concentric relation thereto. In order to attach the keeperring D to-the supportB and at the same time permit it to freely rotatethereon, an annularvgroove d is provided in the outer sur face df itsreduced lowerportion into which projects screws e, extending through thereduced upper end of the support 13, preferably at diametricallyopposite points thereof. 20

The notches d extend upwardly across the groove d so that the ends ofthe screws 6, which project into the groove 03 are in the ath of thetrunnions c and serve as stops to limit the rotation of the tone arm.

In assembling the parts of which the above described form of myinvention is composed, the lower end of the tone arm is placed withinthe upper end of thetubular support B, with the trunnions c resting uponthe shoulder Z): The keeper ring D is then moved downwardly intoengagement with the upper end of the support so that its lower edgerests upon the shoulder b and its recesses 03 surround the trunnions c.

The screws 6 are then screwed inwardly so that their inner ends projectwithin the groove 0Z In Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, I have illustrated aslightly modified form of my invention, in which A designates thesupported end of the tone arm which rotatably fits within the upper endof the tubular support 13*, the latter being cut away so as to form theinterior shouldenb upon which rests the trunnions 0 which are preferablyformed by projecting the ends of a rod C through the large lower end aof the tone arm. D indicates a keeper ring cut away eXteriorly aroundits lower end so as to fit within the reduced upper end of the tubularsupport B -with its lower end resting upon the shoulder b and with itsupper end overlying the upper end of the tubular support.

Projecting inwardly from diametrically opposite points on the upperedgeof the reduced top portion of the tubular support B are lugs e whichare preferably formed integrally with the tubular support, as by bendinginwardly portions of the metal of which the support is formed. Anannular groove f is formed in the outer surfaceof the reduced lowerportion of the keeper ring D at a height above its lower edge toregister with the lugs 6 when the keeper ring is properly seated uponthe tubular support. Diametrically opposed portions 7 of the reducedlower part of thekeeper ring D arecut away below the groove f sothat'the distance between such cut away portions is slightly less thanthe distance between the inner ends of the opposed lugs e The partscomposing the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8, maybe conveniently assembled by first placing the lower end of the tone armwithin the tubular support B with the trunnions 0 resting upon theshoulderb and then seating the keeper ring D upon the upper end of thesupport B, which may be done by locating the cut away portions fimmediately above the lugs e and then moving the ring downwardly untilits lower edge restsupon the shoulder 6 and with the notches d overlyingthe trunnions 0 The lugs 6 then register with the groove 7 so that thering D may freely rotate relatively to the tubular support B and permitthe requisite horizontal rotation of the lower end of the tone arm. Inthis form of my invention, as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to4-inclusive, the tone arm is supported entirely by its trunnions restingupon the shoulder on the interior of the tubular support, the keeperring merely serving to maintain the lower end of the tone arm inconcentric position with relation to the surrounding support, and to prevent the disengagement of the tone arm from its support.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have inventedan improved support for the tone arm of a talking machine, by means ofwhich the tone arm is supported to be freely movable horizontally andvertically with a minimum of resistance. It will be further observedthat my invention comprises parts which may be readily assembled, ordisassembled, to permit the convenient connection of the tone arm withits support, or its removal therefrom when occasion requires.

that I claim is:

1. In a talking machine the combination with a tone arm, of a fixedtubular support within which the supported end of the tone arm projects,trunnions projecting from diametrically opposite sides of the supsupporton which said trunnions, rest, a

keeper ring rotatably fitting within the upper end of said support andhaving notches at diametrically opposite points in its lower" edgesurrounding said trunnions, and projections extending inwardly from saidsupport above the shoulder thereon engaging a groove in the outersurface of said ring.

3. In a talking machine the combination with a tone arm, of a fixedtubular support, into which the supported end of the tone arm projects,trunnions projecting from diametrically opposite sides of the supportedend of the tone arm, a shoulder within said with a tone arm, of a fixedtubular support.

into which the supported end of the tone arm projects, the upper end ofsaid support being reduced in'diameter interiorly to form a shoulder,trunnions projecting from diametrically opposite sides of the supportedend of the tone arm resting uponsaid shoulder, and a keeper ringrotatably fitting within the reduced upper end of said support andengaging the shoulder therein, said ring having notches at diametricallyopposite points in its lower edge loosely surrounding said trunnions.

5. In a talking machine the combination with a tone arm, of a tubularsupport into which the supported end of the tone arm projects, trunnionsprojecting from diametrically opposite sides of the end of the tone arm,a shoulder within said support upon which said trunnions rest, a keeperring rotatably fitting within the upper end of said support and havingnotches at diametrically opposite points in its lower edge looselysurrounding said trunnions, said keeper ring having a circular groove inits outer periphery intersected by said notches, and projectionsextending from said support into said groove to limit the rotation ofthe tone arm by intersecting the path of said trunnions. A

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

LOUIS K. SOOTFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G.

